Tanning Beds and Cancer
|
TOOLBOX
   Resize
COMMENT
 Discussion Policy
 CLOSE
Comments that include profanity or personal attacks or other inappropriate comments or material will be removed from the site. Additionally, entries that are unsigned or contain "signatures" by someone other than the actual author will be removed. Finally, we will take steps to block users who violate any of our posting standards, terms of use or privacy policies or any other policies governing this site. Please review the full rules governing commentaries and discussions. You are fully responsible for the content that you post.
Who's Blogging  |
The July 11 front-page article "Melanoma Rates Increase Among Younger Women" gave much-needed attention to a critical trend.
But the Indoor Tanning Association's claim that there is no scientific evidence showing that indoor tanning causes melanoma could further confuse readers. In fact, researchers strongly disagree, as demonstrated by a recent petition -- signed by nearly 500 of the world's melanoma researchers -- affirming such evidence. Recent studies show a 75 percent increase in risk for melanoma in people who begin using tanning beds in their teens or 20s.
Moreover, with indoor tanning exposure, there is an elevated risk of developing nonmelanoma skin cancers, some of which may be lethal. Given the increased melanoma rates among younger women, avoidance of indoor tanning is one of the most striking ways of reducing skin cancer risk.
DAVID FISHER
Boston
The writer is head of dermatology at Massachusetts General Hospital.
